Air agitator for bench machine operators



.J. MACALUSO 2,139,761

v AIR AGITATOR FOR BENCH MACHINE OPERATORS Filed Oct. 2, 1957 PatentedDec. 13, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AIR AGITATOR FOR BENCH MACHINEOPERATORS 1 Claim.

This invention relates to devices for the agitation of air in work roomswhere there are low level, rapidly rotating shafts, for the comfort ofmachine operatives who, by reason of the nature of their work, arecompelled to remain sitting for long periods of time.

In large factories, where the manufacture of garments or other articlesrequiring extensive machine stitching, is carried on, it is usual toprovide long benches on which are mounted sewing machines in closelyspaced relation, belt driven from a shaft below the bench, and providedwith individual clutches, foot controlled by operators seated in closeproximity in front of the machines.

Under such condition the operatives soon become fatigued because ofbreathing vitiated air, the exertion of mental effort, physical forceand other disadvantages inherent in factories, particularly where it isnot feasible to open windows.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an exceedinglysimple, but highly efficient device whereby the air is maintained inmotion, particularly the lower lying stratum. below the bench, producinga beneficial effect.

A further feature is in the provision of air agitating means, whichcannot create a draft above the bench surface, or interfere in any waywith either the work or well being of the operatives.

Another purpose is to produce devices for attaining the foregoingobjects, which are inexpensive in themselves and negligible in cost ofoperation.

These several objects are accomplished by the novel construction andarrangement of simple parts hereinafter described and illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, constituting a material component of thisdisclosure, and in which:-

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a portion of a conventionalfactory sewing bench showing an application of the invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan View of an embodiment of the device in detail.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of the drive shaft and wingthereon.

In Figure 1, which is largely diagrammatic, the numeral [5 designates asewing bench, mounted on supports l6 resting on the floor ll.

Fixed on the bench are sewing machines l8 having hand wheels l9,outwardly beyond which are drive clutch pulleys 20 actuated by rods 2|connected to control pedals 22 on the floor IT.

A drive shaft 25 extends longitudinally of the bench, substantiallycentral thereof, to operate two rows of machines, one on each sideofthe. bench, the shaft being mounted in bearings 26 formed on thesupports 5.

Drive pulleys 21, fixed at predetermined intervals on the shaft, drivebelts 28, passing through the bench l5 and trained around the clutch 10pulley 20.

The foregoing is merely descriptive of the usual arrangement of a stitchroom and forms no part of the present disclosure, being given in orderto convey a clear idea of the invention. 15

It will be noted that the drive pulleys 27 are spaced at a considerabledistance apart, the shaft 25 being clear therebetween.

Fixed to the shaft in these spaces are single blades 30, consisting offiat plates of any suitable g material, elongated rectangles in planwith rounded corners, these blades acting in the manner of a singlebladed fan.

U-shaped loops 3| having opposed end flanges are rigidly bolted to theblades with the shaft 25 25 enclosed therein, the loops being providedwith set screws 32 by which the blades may be firmly clamped inadjustment.

It will be apparent that when the drive shaft revolves, the blades willcause the air to move, 30 increasing its circulation, giving comfort tothe operators in front of the adjacent machine, but, due to theirlocation, do not tend to create an air blast on the top of the bench.

Having thus described the invention and set forth the manner of itsconstruction, installation and use, what is claimed as new and sought tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

In a factory stitch room having a bench provided with a plurality ofmachines and a drive shaft below the bench common to all said machines,a plurality of thin flat fan blades composed of elongated rectangularplates disposed lengthwise of their centers on the shaft, in thevicinity of the operators of the machines, U- shaped loops having flatend flanges rigidly bolted on one side of each of said plates andthrough which said shaft freely passes, and clamp screws carried by saidloops to impinge on said shaft whereby said plates may be adjusted alongsaid shaft. 50

JOE MACALUSO.

